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UK certification body MCS is consulting on a dedicated product standard for battery storage used in residential and commercial and industrial installations. Proposals include safety and performance requirements, cybersecurity provisions for connected systems, and possible factory oversight; the final rules and implementation timeline are not set.
MCS is consulting on a new UK product standard for battery storage that could require manufacturers serving residential and commercial and industrial customers to meet defined safety, cybersecurity and performance requirements. The proposals would address a gap in the current certification process, but the standard’s final content and start date have not been determined.
The UK certification body says the proposed standard would introduce new reporting and certification requirements for battery products. Its scope would include AC-coupled systems, where batteries and inverters are housed together or in close-coupled enclosures, as well as DC-coupled battery packs, with or without an integrated battery management system.
Draft safety provisions include testing against IEC 62619-2022 and the transport-safety standard UN 38.3. Integrated battery-and-inverter products would also be expected to meet requirements covering power-conversion equipment and electromagnetic compatibility. Proposals include applying information-technology safety requirements to products with wireless connections, alongside IoT cybersecurity rules.
For connected products, possible baseline measures include no default passwords, secure software updates, vulnerability management and protected communications between the battery, inverter and any associated cloud service or mobile app. The draft also proposes declaring performance figures such as nominal and usable energy capacity, input and output power, round-trip efficiency and expected service life. These are proposals under consultation, not final obligations.
What Certification Could Change
A dedicated product standard could give installers and buyers independently verified information about batteries, rather than relying only on manufacturer claims or installation-level certification. Declared capacity, power and efficiency figures could also make products easier to compare, while common security expectations could address risks in systems connected to home networks, apps or cloud platforms.
The change may affect manufacturers’ testing, documentation and certification processes, and could influence which products installers choose. MCS has said factory inspections and ongoing oversight are among the measures under consideration; whether those become part of the final scheme remains unsettled. The proposal is intended to establish a product-level framework, not to announce a new requirement already in force.
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From Installation Rules to Product Certification
MCS already operates a product standard for solar panels and installation standards covering solar and battery storage. Its existing battery installation standard was introduced in 2020. Under the current arrangements described in the report, homeowners seeking access to solar export tariffs must use a certified installer and certified solar modules. Solar panels have an MCS product standard, but battery storage does not yet have an equivalent one.
MCS technical manager Ted Woodward told ESS News that work on the standard began to meet the needs of installers and industry in a fast-growing market. He said battery installations through the scheme have increased and that the market has matured enough to warrant a dedicated product standard. MCS is developing the proposal with a technical working group, manufacturers and other stakeholders.
The Energy Storage Association, which participates in the working group, supports measures to maintain high safety standards. It told ESS News that many products already undergo factory testing and sometimes third-party audits, and argued that MCS could provide locally trusted validation without creating compliance burdens unique to the UK.
“thoroughly supports measures to ensure battery products are held to the highest safety standards”
— The Energy Storage Association, in comments to ESS News
Draft Rules Still Under Review
The consultation has not produced a final standard, and MCS has not confirmed when implementation would begin. The precise scope of any cybersecurity checks, performance declarations, factory inspections and ongoing surveillance remains open to change. It is also not yet clear which proposed requirements will be mandatory or how they will apply to different product configurations.
MCS says certified installers will receive a transition period, but has not set its length. The organization said the period would continue until an “adequate number” of products are certified; the source report does not specify what number would meet that threshold. The Energy Storage Association’s view that many products may already comply is an industry assessment, not confirmation that particular products meet the eventual rules.
Consultation Closes November 10
Manufacturers, installers and other stakeholders can respond to the MCS consultation until 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2026. MCS will then need to consider feedback before the standard’s final requirements and implementation arrangements can be established. No implementation date has been confirmed.
After the final rules are set, MCS says it will allow a transition period for certified installers while an adequate number of products gain certification. The length of that period, the certification process and the final treatment of products already tested by third parties remain to be specified.
Key Questions
What is MCS proposing?
MCS is consulting on a dedicated product standard for UK battery storage, with proposed safety, cybersecurity and performance requirements for manufacturers.
Is the new standard already in force?
No. The requirements remain under consultation. MCS has not confirmed a final standard or an implementation date.
Which battery systems could be covered?
The proposal covers AC-coupled systems and DC-coupled battery packs, including packs with or without an integrated battery management system. Integrated battery-and-inverter products are also addressed in the draft.
What cybersecurity measures are being considered?
Possible baseline measures include no default passwords, secure updates, handling of software vulnerabilities and secure communications among batteries, inverters and connected services. The final requirements have not been set.
When is the consultation deadline?
Responses are due by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2026. MCS has not announced the subsequent implementation schedule.
Source: ess-news.com
